Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 5

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Setting: Guha’s Niṣāda settlement on the Gaṅgā bank (Śṛṅgiverapura region)Places named: Śṛṅgiverapura, GaṅgāPreparation for crossing/assistance to the exiles

Devanagari script

स तु रामस्य वचनं निशम्य प्रतिगृह्य च ।

स्थपतिस्तूर्णमाहूय सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.5

Transliteration

sa tu rāmasya vacanaṃ niśamya pratigṛhya ca |

sthapatis tūrṇam āhūya sacivān idam abravīt ||5||

Translation

ເມື່ອໄດ້ຟັງພຣະວາຈາຂອງພຣະຣາມ ແລະຮັບຄຳຂໍແລ້ວ ຫົວໜ້ານິສາດະກໍເຮັດການເອີ້ນບັນດາອຳມາດຢ່າງຮີບດ່ວນ ແລ້ວກ່າວດັ່ງນີ້.

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• तु: then/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)

• रामस्य: of Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)

• वचनम्: statement/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘निशम्य/प्रतिगृह्य’)

• निशम्य: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + शम्/शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having heard/listened’
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• प्रतिगृह्य: having accepted
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having accepted’
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Connector)

• स्थपतिः: the chief/leader (of Niṣādas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—apposition to सः)

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)

• आहूय: having summoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): ‘having called/summoned’
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• सचिवान्: ministers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘आहूय’)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वचनम्’ इत्यर्थे (object complement)
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object—what was said)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)

Sandhi Notes

• स्थपतिस्तूर्णमाहूय = स्थपतिः + तूर्णम् + आहूय (visarga sandhi; word boundary)
• सचिवानिदम् = सचिवान् + इदम् (anusvāra before vowel)

Context

Having heard and accepted Rama's proposal, the king of the nisadas called his ministers at once and said:

The teaching

Leadership shows itself in swift, organized response to a righteous request, aligning personal authority with dharma.

Ethical theme

Atithi-dharma / rāja-dharma

How it resolves

Prompt governance in service of atithi-dharma

For your practice

Model of seva to the righteous through efficient, humble organization; cultivate readiness to support dharma in practical ways.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Brisk, orderly, attentive

Themes

• Dharma
• Hospitality
• Allyship
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as hospitality and prompt support to the righteous: Guha responds swiftly and responsibly, organizing assistance through proper counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving Rāma’s request, Guha (the Niṣāda leader) calls his ministers to arrange what is needed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness to serve and administrative responsibility—acting quickly and through counsel.